A Shelby County man has been laid to rest after being positively identified nearly 70 years after being shot down during World War II.
The POW/MIA branch of the Navy Casualty Office announced that Indiana native Delbert Martin, who died in aerial combat in the battle to secure Yap (modern-day Federated States of Micronesia), was buried with full military honors at Fairland Cemetery on Wednesday.
Martin was previously buried as an Unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii before his identification.
Martin was killed in action flying over Yap Island in Micronesia on March 21, 1945, at the age of 23. His remains were recovered after 70 years, and he was buried next to his parents in Fairland Cemetery.
He is survived by his nieces, Kathryn Brown, Natalie Shepard and Barbara Martin, and his nephew, Scott Martin. After his death, his parents, J. Franklin and Anna Marie Martin, his sister, Scytha Mae Brown, and his brother, Robert Martin, died.
During recovery and identification efforts on the Yap Islands after the war, the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred one set of unidentified remains at a location designated “173-Jig” on the Yap Air Gunnery Target Map. The AGRS designated the remains as Unknown X-397 Manila Mausoleum (X-397) and buried them at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM).
Based upon their research and expertise, historians at the DPAA concluded Ensign Martin was a historical candidate for these remains recovered from Gagil-Tomil. After laboratory analyses, it was determined that the skeletal remains share a DNA profile (mtDNA and SNP) with Ensign Martin’s relatives and align in expected biological profile based on skeletal analysis.
Martin was accounted for on June 18, 2025.
Indiana wrapping up recounts in three legislative races
New traffic pattern to impact State Road 63 in Vermillion County
Illinois man arrested after chase through Vermillion, Parke counties
Garth Brooks announces The Blame It All On My Roots Tour kicking off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Art and photo contest open for DNR hard card licenses
IFB: Summer cookout costs decrease for Indiana shoppers, lower than U.S. average
$22 million Fourth of July water roller coaster coming to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
ISDA Launches IMAGE Cost-Share Program for southwest Indiana producers
July 4th: Red Cross offers safety tips for a harmless holiday
Full steam ahead: Indiana State Fair to debut new Family Train Ride in 2026
Governor Braun highlights America 250 Celebrations, encourages communities to participate with sSpecial grant program
Arts grant to support Parke Players’ summer musical, Ritz Theater
Missing teen Peyton Fulk found in Florida
Vermillion County Commissioners ready to look at solar overhaul
Know your fireworks laws, safety this holiday season
Two Parke County road closures today
